I know I just posted a cranberry recipe, but I can’t help myself! Cranberry season is too short to let it slip by without some love. Plus, they’re so festive this time of year with their pretty red selves, just waiting to be dolled up. So, here they are again, all dolled up in this vegan cranberry-apple crisp.
Confession: for most of my life I snubbed any dessert that wasn’t chocolate. WHAT WAS I THINKING?!? I can’t remember the exact moment when I finally became sane, but it was probably around the time I started baking seriously. Thank goodness. Because as it turns out, fruit desserts are good! (Except not in ice cream. Don’t ever put fruit in my ice cream.) I never would have known how good a cranberry-apple crisp could be had I not turned the corner from that dark side of chocolate-only desserts.
I teach gluten and dairy-free cooking classes with a local holistic chiropractor, and our latest class focused on holiday sides and desserts. How could I possibly not try to develop a recipe with cranberries for this class? I thought this was a fun way to feature an old classic in a new way. We sampled this dessert in class and people oohed and aahed. It’s a keeper.
This vegan cranberry-apple crisp is gluten, grain and refined sugar free. But don’t let that make you think for one moment that it is boring or bland. This crisp is packed full of so many delicious flavors, spices and textures! I used a mixture of pecans, almond flour, coconut and non-dairy butter, along with some spices, to make the topping. I put a double whammy of spices in both the filling and the topping and added ginger to add just a touch of spiciness. The topping gets crispy and crunchy and absolutely delightful with baking. This crisp achieved the perfect balance of sweet and sour, and is sweetened with maple syrup and nothing more. You can eat this crisp and actually feel good about having dessert.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! I hope you have a blessed, safe and beautiful holiday season.
Side note: Cranberry season is short. When cranberry season is coming to an end, grab a few (or ten) bags of cranberries and throw them in your freezer. They freeze beautifully and then you can pull them out any time you have a hankering for apple-cranberry crisp!
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Is it possible to use spelt flour or even oat flour instead of almond flour?
Hi Stacey, Yes spelt or oat flour would work for this recipe. Thanks for asking! Please let me know if you have any other questions.